Vehicle suspension.



W. R. WILUAMS. VEHICLE SUSPENSION. APPLICATION FILED MN- 22. \9\2- vPatented Jan. 9,191?

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WILLIAM R. WILLIAMS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO CATHERINE EMILYWILLIAMS, OF BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA.

' VEHICLE SUSPENSION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan.9;, 1917.

Application filed January 22, 1912. Serial No. 672,769.

To all whorri it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. VVIL- LIAMS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of New York, county and State of vehicle; whichshall be simple, durable, and

economical in construction and highly eliicient in operation; and whoseparts shall be few, accessible, and easy of application. These and otherobjects of the invention will in partmbe obvious and in part be morefully explained in thefollowing description.

The invention consists in the novel improvements, parts, combinations,and features of construction herein shown and described.

In the accompanying drawings, which are referred to herein and form apart hereof, are illustrated several embodiments of the invention, thesame serving in connection with the descriptionherein to explain theprinciples of the invention.

Of the drawings: Figure 1 is an elevation of a portion of the front of amotor car, showing an embodiment of the invention applied thereto; Fig.2 is a similar view of a modification; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sideelevation of a modification showing the same as applied to the runninggear and chassis of a motor car; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view ofthe same.

Referring now in detail to the drawings,

there is shown in Fig. 1 a portion of the chassis 7 of a motor car.

As ordinarily constructed, the car is provided with springs to give acertaindegree of ease of motion to the vehicle. In order, however, toinsure the stability of the suspended portion or body of the vehicle,these springs must be very rigid. This rigidity constitutes a seriousdefect in motor vehicles in which a high degree of ease of motion isdesirable but which is prevented by this rigidity of'the springs orelastic elements.

In'the construction illustrated in Fig. 1, the chassis is mounted uponsprings 8 and 9 which extend transversely of the vehicle body and whichare connected at their outer ends by shackles 10 to the axle 12 andwhich, as shown, are respectively pivotally mounted at their centerportions in bearings 14 and 15 extending ,downwardly from the chassis 7.The degree of rigidity of the springs of the usual suspension abovealluded to may be represented by the springs 8 and 9, as heretoforearranged. To give the desired degree of ease of motion to the vehicle,when running at high speed or upon encountering inequalities of roadsurface,

the springs'may be made more flexible or the elastic means may beamplified. With springs made more flexible and applied in the ordinarymanner, however, while great ease of motion would be imparted, thesuspended portion of the vehicle would tilt lat dangerous manner uponshifting of the load orally or sway from side to side in a very or uponencountering inequalities in the road surface.

The elastic means may be amplified, however, without any attendingexcessive lateral tilting of the body of the vehicle, if the vehiclesuspension is so constructed and arranged that the instability whichwould otherwise be caused by the addition of extra springs oramplification of the elastic means is eliminated by causing portions ofelastic elements which act on opposite sides of the vehicle to bemutually affected by any stress I communicated to one member.,Therefore, the springs 8 and 9 are connected by shackles Hand. 18 to athird elastic element or spring 19 which, as shown, is arrangedtransversel of the chassis to which it. is so.- cured by 'arings 21. Itwill be .noted, however, that the springs are so connected .as to bemutually affected by flexing of the third spring, and to this end and inac cordance with one feature of my invention, each of the oppositesprings 8 and 9 is con nected to the third elastic element 19 at thepoint marking the limit of flexibility which, without said connectioncould be permitted in either of said springs 8 and 9 Without which theelastic elements supporting the affecting the equilibrium of the vehiclebody. By making the connection between the springs 8 and. 9 inthismanner, the third elastic element or spring 19 can be amplified togive the desired additional ease motion I to the vehicle and yet thestability of the suspended portion of the vehicle will not" flexing ofspring 19 and, while said body Will be free to movevertically or up anddown to a degree toin'sure the desired ease.

of motion, this motion will always, ,to said extent, be approximatelyparallel. lt'will also be noted that the suspension thus (lee scribedcan be duplicated at the rear of the car.

In Fig. 2

is illustrated amodification' in Vehicle consists, as shown, ofvertically disposed helical springs-23 and-2e suitablysecured to therunning gear and-or" levers 25' and 26connected to the respectivesprings '23 and 24 and extending transversely of the:

chassis 7 to which the levers are connected by being pivoted in bearings14 and 15 It will be obvious that the'leversan'dz26 with theireonnected'springs 23 and 24: perform the same function as the springs 8and 9 of Fig. '1. It will also be noted that-the levers .25 and 26 areconnected at their inner ends by a common connecting member-27h) a thirdelastic elementors'pring 28, and this I connection is made at the pointmarlnngth'e' limit of elasticity which, without said'co'n nection,e'an'be given to either of said elastic elements comprising the leverand-helical spring. Itwill further be noted that the two elasticelements have a commonpoint marking said limit of' elasticity and thatsaid connection with the third elastic-"'ele--- ment is preferablymade-at this-poin t, but may be made at any point not exceeding theflexibility which can be givenfl to each of said first two elementswithout aifeetingthe equiv libri-um of the 'vehicle body. *Itwill' alsobe noted that the thi r'd" elastic element 'or s pring illustrated inFig. 1.

dis osed dia onall of the vehicle bodv in v n Y pairs, one pairsupporting the front portion In this withoutaflecting n the embodimentof the vehicle body and another pair the rear portion of the body. Itwill be noted that the. third elastic elements of the respective pairsof 'supporting 'elements are closely adacent.

. It w-illbe seen that a vehicle suspension 'constructed in accordancewith this invention will carry out the objects ofthe-invention,a'sheretofore mentioned, while possessin'g other advantages which willbe apparent to those skilled in the art,

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to, the preciseconstruction shown and described, nor to any particular con-v structionby which the same may be carried into eftect, as many changes may bemade. in the details without departing from ,the-

. main principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chieiadvantages.

I- claim: 1. A vehicle. suspe was nsion includingin combinatlon, a paironl ofelastic supporting elements arranged in cooperative relation 1with the body and an axleof a vehicle, said elements being connected attheir;outer ends.

withthe oppositeendsof the axle and pivotally; attached at their'centersto-thebody, av third elastic element, and means connecting said pair ofelastic elements attheir inner ends with said third elastic element, theconnection being made to teach of saidpair' of elastic elements at thepoint marking-the limit of elasticity which without said connectioncanbe given to said elastic element theiequilibrium of the vehiclebody. I2a A vehicle suspension including in, combination, a pair only ofelastic supportingelements arranged in coiiperative relation with thebody and an axle of a vehicle, said elements being connected at theirouter ends with the opposite ends,ofthe axle and pivotal-1y attached attheircenters to the body, athird elastic element; and means connectingsaidpair of elastict -elements attheir inner ends with said third'elastic element, said pair of "elastic: elementshaving a commonpoint ofconnection -to said thirdelment; and said point marking the limit of"elasticity which withoutsaid=connection can" be'given' 115 Ibinat'iong-h plurality of elastic supporting 28 "is connected to theaxle'fl iP insteacl'ot being arranged between theiirst two ele-j mentsand the-chassis,-

elements arraii'ged incooperati've relation with the body and an axle'ofa, vehicle; said elements being eonnecte'd' at their outer 'enils''withthe opposite endsflof theaxleland pivot:- V While in.'theembodiment oi the inventien illustrated in Fig. 2; the elasticsupporti'ng' elements are shown arranged tran'svcrselyf of thevehicle/body; in Figs 3 and t the levers of the elastic elementsaresluiil'iras 1,21LM3 a out said connection can be given to said elementwithout affecting the equilibrium of the vehicle body.

4. A; vehicle suspension including in combination, a pair only ofelastic supp rting elements arranged in cooperative relation with thebody and an axle of a vehicle, said elements, being connected at theirouter ends with the opposite ends of the axle, each elastic elementcomprising a spring and a lever, and a third elastic eleineconnectingthe inner ends of said first named elements, each lever being connectedto said third elastic element and the elasticity of each of said pair ofelastic elements beingthe maximum which without the connection to thethird elastic element can be imparted to said member without affectinthe equilibrium of the vehicle body.

5. A vehicle suspension including, in combination, a pair of resilientmembers located in an intermediate plane substantially paralT lel to thevehicle body and a supporting aiile, said members being connected withopposite parts of the axle at their outer ends and pivotally attached attheir centers to the body, and an elastic element linked to the innerends of both members so as to control. movement of either memberrelatively to the other. i

6. A vehicle suspension including in combination and in cooperation withthe body, axle and running gear of av-ehicle, a plurality of springsconnected with opposite ends of the axle, levers pivotally mounted onthe body of the vehicle and a third elastic element, said leverscomiecting said springs and said third elastic element and said springshaving a common limit of flexibility, substantially as described.

g 7 A vehicle suspension including in combination, a pair only ofelastic elements arranged in cooperative relation with the body and anaxle of a vehicle, said elements'heing connected at their outer endswith the opposite ends of the axle and pivotally attached at theircenters to the body, a "third elastic element, and means connecting saidpair of out said connection can be given to said elastic element withoutaffecting the equilibrium of the vehicle body.

8. A vehicle suspension including in combination, a pair only of elasticsupporting elements arranged in cooperative relation with the body andan axle of a vehicle, said elements being connected at their outer endswith the opposite ends of the axle and pivotally attached at theircenters to the body, a third elastic element, and means connecting saidpair of elastic elements at their inner ends with said third elasticelement, said pair of elastic elements having a common point ofconnection to said third element, and said point being within the limitof elasticity which without said connection can be given to each of saidpair of elements without affecting theequilibrium of the vehicle body.

9. A vehicle suspension including incombination, a pair of springsarranged at opposite ends of an axle, a third spring arranged midway ofsaid axle, and a lever arranged between each of said pair of springs andsaid third spring and pivotally mounted on the vehicle body,substantially as described.

10. A vehicle suspension including, in combination and in cooperationwith the vehicle-body and an axle, a plurality of elastic membersconnected with opposite ends of the and having each an intermediatepivotal connection with the body, and an elastic element joining saidmembers between 'tlieirrespective pivotal connections and permittingrelative vertical movement mt the body-and axle. 1

in testimony whereof, I have signed my name tothis specincation, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

' WILLIAM R. WILLIAMS. i i itnessesz I FRANCEQ Kinsmen, RAPHAEL R.MURPHY.

